Account vs. Satisfactory — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 2, 2024
An account typically refers to a record or report of events or financial transactions, emphasizing systematic documentation. Satisfactory, however, describes a condition or state that meets established standards or expectations, focusing on adequacy.
Difference Between Account and Satisfactory
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
An account is often a formal record, such as in banking or narrative contexts, where details are systematically documented. Satisfactory, on the other hand, is an adjective used to describe something that fulfills requirements or expectations, often in terms of quality or performance.
While an account can be a financial arrangement or a description of events, offering precision and traceability, satisfactory denotes a level of performance or condition that is deemed acceptable or sufficient, without necessarily being exceptional.
Accounts are essential for maintaining historical accuracy or financial clarity, used in both personal and business contexts to ensure accountability. Satisfactory is more subjective, varying according to individual or societal standards and is used to evaluate the acceptability of an outcome or situation.
In practical applications, maintaining an account involves regular updates and checks to ensure accuracy, such as reconciling bank statements or documenting transactions. Satisfactory, however, is often a final assessment, such as determining if a completed task meets the set criteria or standards.
While accounts serve as a basis for analysis, decision-making, and legal compliance, indicating detailed and organized data, the term satisfactory is used as a qualitative assessment, indicating adequacy rather than detail or organization.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
A report or record of financial transactions or events
Describes something that meets required standards
Usage Context
Financial, historical, narrative documentation
Quality assessment, performance evaluation
Connotation
Precision, documentation, accountability
Adequacy, acceptability, sufficiency
Purpose
To document and track data or narratives
To evaluate or denote acceptability
Nature
Objective and systematic
Subjective and qualitative
Compare with Definitions
Account
A record or statement of financial expenditures and receipts.
She keeps a detailed account of all her business transactions.
Satisfactory
Fulfilling expectations or needs; acceptable.
Her performance at work was satisfactory, but not outstanding.
Account
A description or report of an event.
He gave an account of his journey through Asia.
Satisfactory
Sufficiently good; not exceptional but enough.
The meal was satisfactory, though nothing special.
Account
A customer arrangement with a bank or company.
I need to open a new bank account.
Satisfactory
Satisfactory is a factory simulation game created by Swedish video game developer Coffee Stain Studios. It is a 3D first-person open world exploration and factory building game.
Account
A narrative or record of events.
Satisfactory
Giving satisfaction sufficient to meet a demand or requirement; adequate.
Account
A reason given for a particular action or event
What is the account for this loss?.
Satisfactory
Done to satisfaction; adequate or sufficient.
The satisfactory results of the survey led to his promotion.
Account
A report relating to one's conduct
Gave a satisfactory account of herself.
Satisfactory
Causing satisfaction; agreeable or pleasant; satisfying.
Account
A basis or ground
No reason to worry on that account.
Satisfactory
(theology) Making atonement for a sin; expiatory.
Account
A formal banking, brokerage, or business relationship established to provide for regular services, dealings, and other financial transactions.
Satisfactory
Somebody or something that meets requirements without exceeding them.
Account
A precise list or enumeration of financial transactions.
Satisfactory
The rating given to somebody or something that meets requirements without exceeding them.
Account
A sum of money deposited for checking, savings, or brokerage use.
Satisfactory
Giving or producing satisfaction; yielding content; especially, relieving the mind from doubt or uncertainty, and enabling it to rest with confidence; sufficient; as, a satisfactory account or explanation.
Account
A customer having a business or credit relationship with a firm
Salespeople visiting their accounts.
Satisfactory
Making amends, indemnification, or recompense; causing to cease from claims and to rest content; compensating; atoning; as, to make satisfactory compensation, or a satisfactory apology.
A most wise and sufficient means of redemption and salvation, by the satisfactory and meritorious death and obedience of the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Account
A private access to a computer system or online service, usually requiring a password to enter.
Satisfactory
Giving satisfaction;
Satisfactory living conditions
His grades were satisfactory
Account
Worth, standing, or importance
A landowner of some account.
Satisfactory
Meeting requirements;
The step makes a satisfactory seat
Account
Profit or advantage
Turned her writing skills to good account.
Satisfactory
Meeting the required standards; adequate.
The project’s results were deemed satisfactory by the board.
Account
To consider as being; deem. See Usage Note at as1.
Satisfactory
Fairly good; passable.
His explanation was satisfactory to the police.
Account
(accounting) A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review.
Satisfactory
Causing contentment without excitement.
The agreement was satisfactory to both parties.
Account
(banking) A bank account.
Account
A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; a reason of an action to be done.
No satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena.
Account
A reason, grounds, consideration, motive; a person's sake.
Don't trouble yourself on my account.
On no account
On every account
On all accounts
Account
A record of events; a relation or narrative.
An account of a battle.
Account
An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment.
Account
Importance; worth; value; esteem; judgement.
Account
Authorization as a specific registered user in accessing a system.
I've opened an account with Wikipedia so that I can contribute and partake in the project.
Account
(archaic) A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning.
Account
(uncountable) Profit; advantage.
The young man soon turned his woodworking skills to some account.
Account
To provide explanation.
Account
To present an account of; to answer for, to justify.
Account
To give an account of financial transactions, money received etc.
Account
(transitive) To estimate, consider (something to be as described).
Account
(intransitive) To consider that.
Account
(intransitive) To give a satisfactory evaluation for financial transactions, money received etc.
An officer must account with or to the treasurer for money received.
Account
(intransitive) To give a satisfactory evaluation for (one's actions, behaviour etc.); to answer for.
We must account for the use of our opportunities.
Account
(intransitive) To give a satisfactory reason for; to explain.
Idleness accounts for poverty.
Account
(intransitive) To establish the location for someone.
After the crash, not all passengers were accounted for.
Account
(intransitive) To cause the death, capture, or destruction of someone or something (+ for).
Account
To count.
Account
To calculate, work out (especially with periods of time).
Account
(obsolete) To count (up), enumerate.
Account
(obsolete) To recount, relate (a narrative etc.).
Account
A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time.
A beggarly account of empty boxes.
Account
A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review; as, to keep one's account at the bank.
Account
A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often used simply for reason, ground, consideration, motive, etc.; as, on no account, on every account, on all accounts.
Account
A statement of facts or occurrences; recital of transactions; a relation or narrative; a report; a description; as, an account of a battle.
Account
A statement and explanation or vindication of one's conduct with reference to judgment thereon.
Give an account of thy stewardship.
Account
An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment.
Account
Importance; worth; value; advantage; profit.
This other part . . . makes account to find no slender arguments for this assertion out of those very scriptures which are commonly urged against it.
Account
To reckon; to compute; to count.
The motion of . . . the sun whereby years are accounted.
Account
To place to one's account; to put to the credit of; to assign; - with to.
Account
To value, estimate, or hold in opinion; to judge or consider; to deem.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up.
Account
To recount; to relate.
Account
To render or receive an account or relation of particulars; as, an officer must account with or to the treasurer for money received.
Account
To render an account; to answer in judgment; - with for; as, we must account for the use of our opportunities.
Account
To give a satisfactory reason; to tell the cause of; to explain; - with for; as, idleness accounts for poverty.
Newer was preaching more accounted of than in the sixteenth century.
Account
A formal contractual relationship established to provide for regular banking or brokerage or business services;
He asked to see the executive who handled his account
Account
The act of informing by verbal report;
He heard reports that they were causing trouble
By all accounts they were a happy couple
Account
A record or narrative description of past events;
A history of France
He gave an inaccurate account of the plot to kill the president
The story of exposure to lead
Account
A short account of the news;
The report of his speech
The story was on the 11 o'clock news
The account of his speech that was given on the evening news made the governor furious
Account
A statement of recent transactions and the resulting balance;
They send me an accounting every month
Account
A statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.;
The explanation was very simple
I expected a brief account
Account
An itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or services rendered;
He paid his bill and left
Send me an account of what I owe
Account
Grounds;
Don't do it on my account
The paper was rejected on account of its length
He tried to blame the victim but his success on that score was doubtful
Account
Importance or value;
A person of considerable account
He predicted that although it is of small account now it will rapidly increase in importance
Account
The quality of taking advantage;
She turned her writing skills to good account
Account
Be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something;
Passing grades account for half of the grades given in this exam
Account
Keep an account of
Account
To give an account or representation of in words;
Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental
Account
Furnish a justifying analysis or explanation;
I can't account for the missing money
Account
Responsibility or importance.
Your opinions hold great account in the committee.
Account
To consider or regard in a specified way.
He accounted himself lucky to have escaped.
Common Curiosities
Can an account be unsatisfactory?
Yes, the findings or outcomes detailed in an account can be unsatisfactory if they do not meet the required standards or expectations.
How does one maintain an account?
Maintaining an account typically involves regular updates, accurate recording of transactions, and periodic reviews to ensure accuracy.
Is satisfactory always a positive evaluation?
Satisfactory is positive in the sense that it meets the minimum required standards, but it does not imply excellence or exceed expectations.
Can the quality of a product be satisfactory?
Yes, the quality of a product can be described as satisfactory if it meets the consumers' expectations and requirements.
What is an account in finance?
In finance, an account refers to a record that keeps track of all financial transactions of a particular type or at a financial institution.
What details are typically included in an account?
An account usually includes dates, transaction details, amounts, and parties involved, providing a comprehensive record.
What does satisfactory mean in a business context?
In business, satisfactory means meeting the agreed-upon standards or expectations, often relating to performance or quality of products and services.
How does the context affect the meaning of satisfactory?
The context can influence the standards and expectations against which "satisfactory" is used in various meanings.
Why is an account important in business?
An account is crucial in business for maintaining financial transparency, ensuring compliance with laws, and aiding in effective decision-making.
How is satisfactory used in performance reviews?
In performance reviews, satisfactory indicates that an employee’s performance meets the job requirements adequately.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Cathedral vs. Minster
Next Comparison
Capsaicin vs. CapsicumAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
